Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the Escapist Book Co. virtual book tour for Charissa Weaks’ Romantic Fantasy novel City of Ruin! Today, I am excited to help kickoff the tour by sharing an interview with the main characters of the book, Alexus and Raina!
You can find our interview below, along with all of the info about the book, the author, links to purchase a copy of City of Ruin for yourself, and a chance to win a copy in our giveaway! Also, be sure to take a look at the schedule here or at the top of the post and follow along to see the stops from our other awesome hosts!
Book Information:
City of Ruin by Charissa Weaks
Published: 9/27/22
Series: The Witch Walker Series #2
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Intended Age Group: Adult
Pages: 504
Publisher: City Owl Press
Blurb:
The night the Prince of the East razed her village, Raina Bloodgood’s life changed forever. Forced into someone else’s war—and into the arms of the Witch Collector, Alexus Thibault—Raina discovered that everything she believed was wrong, and that she was capable of far more than anyone imagined.
Now, the Prince of the East has taken the Frost King as a pawn in his war against the Summerlands, causing Alexus’s life to hang in the balance. To thwart the prince’s endgame and prevent the Tiressian empire from returning to an age of gods, Raina, Alexus, and a band of Northlanders race against the sands of time to reach a mystical desert land where merciless assassins lurk around every corner.
In the midst of tragedy, Raina and Alexus fight to stay together and alive, all while a nefarious presence follows them straight to the jeweled gates of the Summerland queen’s citadel—the City of Ruin. With much to fear, it’s the terror of a past she shouldn’t remember that Raina cannot cast from her dreams.
A past that’s determined to find her. One way or another.
City of Ruin is book two in a thrilling romantic fantasy series, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik, Sarah J. Maas, and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Book Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/Walker2UBL
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59108560-city-of-ruin
Character Q&A
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Alexus: *bows his head in greeting* My name is Alexus Thibault.
Raina: *signs her name*
Alexus: *translates*
What music do you listen to?
Alexus: I’m quite fond of stringed instruments.
Raina: “Me as well. But I like my music a bit rowdier than him.”
Alexus grins and translates.
What are 3 items you can’t live without?
Alexus tilts his head toward Raina: “Her, of course. Books. And then it’s a three-way tie between this key (lifts it from around his neck), my journals, and my sword.
Raina blushes: “I cannot live without this man, no doubt. And a dagger is a must. And this necklace.” *touches the pearl at her throat* “It’s very dear to me.”
Alexus squeezes her knee and translates.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is one thing you’d like to have with you?
Alexus and Raina look at one another and smile.
Alexus: “I think that’s obvious.”
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Alexus: “Can’t say that I have any.”
Raina rolls her eyes: “When he says that he does not have any pet peeves.”
Alexus laughs and translates.
What do you do in your free time?
Alexus laughs harder: “Who came up with these questions? Did they know who they were speaking to beforehand?”
Raina gives him a narrowed look. “Dirty mind.”
What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?
Raina points at Alexus.
Alexus translates and shrugs: “I’m the early bird.”
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Raina: “That you can never move forward if you never leave anything behind.”
Alexus translates and says: “That the heart is the wisest guide.”
What do you carry in your bag?
Raina: “Only the necessities.”
Alexus translates and gives a flat smile: “The necessities she forgot.”
What’s your favorite animal?
Raina: “Oh, this is hard. I have two Tuck’s in my life. A dog and a horse. I love them both.”
Alexus translates and nods. “For me, it’s my horse Mannus. Ever the loyal friend.”
What do you think about Neri and Nephele?
Raina crosses her arms and flares her nostrils: “Next question, please.”
Alexus translates and raises his brows: “Touchy subject we should probably avoid.”
Do you have a favorite saying?
Raina: “Go rot in the Nether Reaches. Got that one from my sister.”
Alexus translates and laughs: “And she got it from Colden.” *rubs his chin* “I suppose my favorite saying is ‘Fuck all.’ I probably toss that one around a bit more liberally than I should.”
What is your favorite holiday?
Raina signs and Alexus speaks at the same time: “The Winter Solstice.”
If you could go anywhere in Tiressia, where would you go and why?
Raina looks at Alexus longingly. “Back to Malgros. To the lighthouse at Starworth Tor.”
Alexus translates and takes her hand: “We will find our way back there. I swear it.”
What do you do to relax?
Alexus drops his head and laughs again before looking at Raina with a smile in his eyes.
Raina laughs too: “Fine, I will say what he so wants to say. We do each other.”
What is your favorite food?
Raina: “My mother’s custard.”
Alexus translates and says: “Smoked elk roast with root vegetables in a red wine sauce.”
Raina looks at him and signs: “You must feed me that. Soon.”
Alexus’s mouth curls at one corner. “You know I will.”
What is your favorite season?
Raina: “Spring.”
Alexus translates and says: “Summertime.”
How would you define happiness?
Raina’s face falls a little: “A warm spring day in the valley with Alexus and my loved ones.”
Alexus translates and slides his arm around her shoulders: “Yes. Being with the ones we love.”
What are you passionate about?
Raina: “Bringing peace to Tiressia.”
Alexus translates and says: “That’s what we’re both fighting for. Peace.”
How do you feel about your government?
Raina: “Another complex question.”
Alexus translates and says: “One I’d rather skip if you don’t mind.”
If you could change one thing about Tiressia, what would it be?
Alexus: “I would seat a just ruler on the Eastern throne and make it so that the gods could never rise again.”
Raina nods.
What’s your biggest secret?
Raina: “As if I would tell you.”
Alexus translates and says: “We would have to kill you.”
What do you hate?
Alexus: “Hate is a dangerous word.”
Raina: “And again, complex. I would know that better than anyone.”
Alexus translates.
What’s your biggest fear?
Raina: “Losing everyone I love.”
Alexus translates and says: “I’ve lived long enough that only one thing scares me now.” He looks at Raina. “Losing her.”
What do you think your best quality is?
Alexus to Raina: “You answer for me, and I’ll answer for you.”
Raina: “Your best quality is your devotedness. Your loyalty. Your huge heart.”
Alexus translates and smiles: “They said one. But I understand. Your best qualities are your fierce protectiveness, your brutal honesty, and your determination.”
How would you describe the world you live in?
Alexus: “A magickal, mesmerizing land that’s in trouble.”
Raina: “A magickal, mesmerizing land that is in trouble. But a land we are going to save.”
Alexus leans over and kisses Raina: “See? There’s that determination I love.”
About the Author
CHARISSA WEAKS is an award-winning author of romantic and historical fantasy. She crafts stories with time travel, magick, myth, history, and the occasional apocalyptic quest.
Charissa resides just south of Nashville with her family and two wrinkly English Bulldogs. When she’s not writing, you can find Charissa lost in a good book or digging through four-hundred-year-old texts for research.
To keep up with her writing endeavors and to gain access to writing freebies and book giveaways, join her newsletter, The Monthly Courant or join her facebook group, Rebel Readers.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharissaWeaksAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charissaweaksauthor/
TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeT8tS7M/
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